The comments made indicated that the numbers of troops deployed initially and for weeks thereafter were inadequate considering the scope of the problem. I also note that the author was quite complimentary about the CF personnel responding to the fire, but indicated the numbers where inadequate to deal with the crisis.
You obviously have no idea how domestic operations work. The CF cannot do anything unless requested to do so by a provincial government. The CF, in this case, delivered
exactly what was requested. Moreover, soldiers can only be trained to tackle certain types of forest fires - the more dangerous ones are left to professionals.
There was nothing from BC asking for more troops or for soldiers to fight additional fires. As it was, we were engaged throughout S. BC and provided - at one point - the bulk of the assets engaged against the fires in Kelowna.
The Griffons did not have the lift capacity that a Chinook has, whether that is in terms of moving personnel, carrying equipment, or in dropping large fire retardant or water on fires as other military can perform.
Which is irrelevant to this "discussion". Heavier aircraft were never requested.
Check out the press releases from DND as to the manning levels during the crisis. When they finally reached the higher numbers - towards the end - 3 weeks after it hit the fan - a lot of damage had occurred including considerable numbers of people losing their homes.
I know exactly how many soldiers were deployed and when. During the first week of September 2003, we were the largest CF operations - including those overseas. We deployed
exactly what was requested by the Province of BC
exactly when they requested it. Again, soldiers can only fight certain types of fires - structural fires are left to professionals, although B Coy 1 PPCLI found itself fighting structural fires in Southern Kelowna.
The comment was in terms of having additional staff available as the naval was on an operational pause at the time and their personnel were available to boster the numbers the army and air force could supply.
There was
no requirement for additional numbers. NDHQ had warned units across Canada for deployment, but they were not required. As it was, our units on the ground spent the last week of the operation "cold trailing" - a waste of CF resources - and we withdrew shortly thereafter.
I will state this again, categorically: the Army met every request for soldiers from the Province, which employed them as required against fires in the Okanagan and Barriere/McClure with great effect. I have never heard one word of complaint from any quarter about the numbers deployed or the equipment utilized - and I attended the Provincial Fire Symposium in the Fall 2003 where the entire season was revisited; the operation was described by the DCDS as "textbook".
If the "author" is using OP PEREGRINE as an example of a "failed" domestic operation, he is being intellectually dishonest.
PS: I happen to be
from Kelowna and would have heard an ear-full from my parents should the operation have been the least bit inadequate.
Edited to clean up some abysmal punctuation.